Cosmetic composition for skin tightening

Abstract

The present invention provides a topical composition that contains a water-soluble film-forming polymer, a bimodal copolymer comprising a first polymeric component with anionic functional groups and a second polymeric component with cationic functional groups, and one or more biological polymers that are derived from a source selected from the group consisting of animals, plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria or are biotechnologically synthesized. The first and second polymeric components of the bimodal copolymer form an interpenetrating polymeric network that interacts with the water-soluble film-forming polymer and the biological polymers to form a polymeric film with superior skin-firming and skin-toning effects. Such a topical composition can be applied to saggy or wrinkled skin for enhancing the appearance of the skin.

1 . A topical composition for improving the appearance of the skin, comprising:
 a water-soluble film-forming polymer;   a bimodal copolymer comprising a first polymeric component with anionic functional groups and a second polymeric component with cationic functional groups; and   one or more biological polymers that are derived from a source selected from the group consisting of animals, plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria or are biotechnologically synthesized.   
     
     
         2 . The topical composition of  claim 1 , which forms a polymeric film on the skin after application thereto, wherein the polymeric film is characterized by a skin-firming effect of no less than about 30% and/or a skin-toning effect of no less than about 50%. 
     
     
         3 . The topical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric film is characterized by a skin-firming effect of no less than about 50% and/or a skin-toning effect of no less than about 100%. 
     
     
         4 . The topical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric film is characterized by a skin-firming effect of no less than about 60% and/or a skin-toning effect of no less than about 180%. 
     
     
         5 . The topical composition of  claim 2 , wherein the polymeric film is further characterized by an adhesion of at least 1500 grams. 
     
     
         6 . The topical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble film-forming polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylacetate (PVA), PVP/PVA copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), cellulosic ethers, polyamides, acrylates polymers and copolymers, PVP/dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) acrylates copolymers, vinylpyrrolidone (VP)/lauryl methacrylate (LMA) copolymers, ammonium acrylodimethyltaurateNVP copolymers, isobutylene (IB)/maleic anhydride (MA) copolymers, imidized IB/MA copolymers, acrylates/acrylonitrogen copolymers, polysiloxanes, silicon-containing polymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The topical composition of  claim 6 , comprising from about 1% to about 10% of the water-soluble film-forming polymer by total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         8 . The topical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the first polymeric component of the bimodal copolymer comprises one or more monomeric units having the formula of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group and X +  is a salt-forming cation. 
       
     
     
         9 . The topical composition of  claim 8 , wherein the second polymeric component of the bimodal copolymer comprises one or more monomeric units having the formula of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a quatemized adduct thereof, wherein R 1 , R 3  and R 4  are, independently, hydrogen or an alkyl group and R 2  is an alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         10 . The topical composition of  claim 9 , wherein the first polymeric component comprises one or more monomeric acrylate units, and wherein the second polymeric component comprises one or more monomeric dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylate units or quatemized adducts thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The topical composition of  claim 10 , comprising from about 1% to about 10% of the bimodal copolymer by total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         12 . The topical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more biological polymers are selected from the group consisting of keratin, cellulose gum, alginates, carrageenans, sweet almond proteins, argan proteins, corn proteins, wheat proteins, silk proteins, milk proteins, soy proteins, tobacco leaf proteins, bacterial proteins, fibrous proteins derived from beans, albumins, and bacterial polysaccharides. 
     
     
         13 . The topical composition of  claim 12 , comprising two or more biological polymers selected from the group consisting of keratin, cellulose gum, alginates, and carrageenans. 
     
     
         14 . The topical composition of  claim 12 , comprising from about 0.1% to about 30% of said biological polymers by total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         15 . The topical composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more skin care additives. 
     
     
         16 . The topical composition of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more skin care additives are selected from the group consisting of anti-aging agents, anti-acne agents, enzyme-inhibiting agents, collagen-stimulating agents, sunscreen agents, antioxidants, and exfoliants. 
     
     
         17 . A method of enhancing the appearance of skin, comprising applying to the skin a topical composition comprising: (1) a water-soluble film-forming polymer, (2) a bimodal copolymer comprising a first polymeric component with anionic functional groups and a second polymeric component with cationic functional groups, and (3) one or more biological polymers that are derived from a source selected from the group consisting of animals, plants, algae, fungi, and bacteria or are biotechnologically synthesized. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the topical composition is applied to saggy or wrinkled skin. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the topical composition is applied as needed to the saggy or wrinkled skin to achieve immediate wrinkle reduction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the topical composition forms a polymeric film on the skin after application thereto, wherein the polymeric film is characterized by a skin-firming effect of no less than about 30% and a skin-toning effect of no less than about 50%. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric film is characterized by a skin-firming effect of no less than about 50% and/or a skin-toning effect of no less than about 100%. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric film is characterized by a skin-firming effect of no less than about 60% and/or a skin-toning effect of no less than about 180%. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric film is further characterized by an adhesion of no less than about 1500 grams. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the water-soluble film-forming polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyvinylacetate (PVA), PVP/PVA copolymers, carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), cellulosic ethers, polyamides, acrylates polymers and copolymers, PVP/dimethylaminopropylamine (DMAPA) acrylates copolymers, vinylpyrrolidone (VP)/lauryl methacrylate (LMA) copolymers, ammonium acrylodimethyltaurate/VP copolymers, isobutylene (IB)/maleic anhydride (MA) copolymers, imidized IB/MA copolymers, acrylates/acrylonitrogen copolymers, polysiloxanes, silicon-containing polymers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the topical composition comprises from about 1% to about 10% of the water-soluble film-forming polymer by total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first polymeric component of the bimodal copolymer comprises one or more monomeric units having the formula of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R is hydrogen or an alkyl group and X +  is a salt-forming cation. 
       
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the second polymeric component of the bimodal copolymer comprises one or more monomeric units having the formula of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         or a quatemized adduct thereof, wherein R 1 , R 3  and R 4  are, independently, hydrogen or an alkyl group and R 2  is an alkyl group. 
       
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the first polymeric component comprises one or more monomeric acrylate units, and wherein the second polymeric component comprises one or more monomeric dialkylaminoalkylmethacrylate units or quatemized adducts thereof. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the topical composition comprises from about 1% to about 10% of the bimodal copolymer by total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said one or more biological polymers are selected from the group consisting of keratin, cellulose gum, alginates, carrageenans, sweet almond proteins, argan proteins, corn proteins, wheat proteins, silk proteins, milk proteins, soy proteins, tobacco leaf proteins, bacterial proteins, fibrous proteins derived from beans, albumins, and bacterial polysaccharides. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the topical composition comprises two or more biological polymers selected from the group consisting of keratin, cellulose gum, alginates, and carrageenans. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the topical composition comprises comprising from about 0.1% to about 30% of said biological polymers by total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the topical composition further comprising one or more skin care additives. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the skin care additives are selected from the group consisting of anti-aging agents, anti-acne agents, enzyme-inhibiting agents, collagen-stimulating agents, sunscreen agents, antioxidants, and exfoliants.